This Month

The three-day show will pitch its marquees in the beautiful grounds of Penshurst Place, creating a relaxed family day out. Think ‘festival vibe but without the mud’, this fun-packed family day is one of the most prestigious craft shows in the country. With over 150 exhibitors showcasing a range of exquisite items for the home and garden from beautifully crafted furniture to handmade clothing. Join in with the workshops and heritage craft demonstrations. Enjoy the street food, drinks stalls and live music throughout the day in the striking landscape of Penshurst Place. thecraftshows.co.uk

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One Love Festival, The Hop Farm, 30 Aug – 1 Sep

One Love Festival returns to The Hop Farm for 2019. With a laid back, chilled out vibe come and enjoy live music acts over the weekend. Reggae, dance, peace and love abound. onelovefestival.co.uk

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Camp Wildfire, Heritage Pine Forest, Sevenoaks, 30 Aug – 2 Sep

Camp Wildfire returns this summer for an explosion of immersive adventure and parties set in an idyllic forest near Sevenoaks. Think Summer Camp but for adults! Participate in thrilling adventure adventures including flying trapeze, raft building, quad biking, archery battles plus more. By night the forest will transform into a hedonistic festival with diverse music programmes featuring Craig Charles, DJ Yoda and Little Gay Brother, secret late-night parties, adventure talks and the chance to cosy up around campfires. Book up now: campwildfire.co.uk

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Avenue Q, Leas Cliff Hall Folkestone, Weds 4 – Sat 7 Sep

Packed with mischief, bad behaviour and political incorrectness, this hugely entertaining show is back by popular demand at Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone. Created by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez (co-creator of Book Of Mormon) Avenue Q is an irresistibly charming musical which tells the story of the loveable characters on a downtown New York street. This adult-only show is cheeky and entertaining with talented performers and puppets. Tickets are only £13, book now! atgtickets.com

Be amazed by Millbrook’s tropical indoor garden and experience beautiful butterflies free-flying all around. The Millbrook Butterfly Experience is alive with an array of stunning butterflies and exotic scented plants from across the world. Get up close and discover amazing facts about the life-cycle and behaviour of these fascinating creatures. Spot and identify many different species using their butterfly spotter sheet. Open until Sat 14 Sep, 11am – 4pm. Tickets can be purchased in store! millbrookgc.co.uk

Want to connect and collaborate with likeminded individuals? Want to know about running a successful, profitable and ethical business? Don’t miss this month’s Entrepreneur Social at St John’s Yard. Meet the Founder and MD of Brighton Gin, Kathy Caton. Brighton Gin was founded in 2013 and has achieved numerous awards, is stocked in some of the UK’s most successful retailers and remains committed to making a positive social and environmental impact. Book your tickets now: geniusu.com

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Craft Fair, Hever Castle, 5 – 8 Sep

Head to Hever Castle in September for a new contemporary craft fair organised by Craft In Focus. Discover over 120 exhibitors from the UK’s finest designer makers and contemporary artists, enjoy live music and the food stalls. If you’ve got kids aged 7-14 they can explore the Tudor Towers adventure playground with its own moat, drawbridge and three turrets. Those under 7 can enjoy Acorn Dell, a natural play area with a 2 metre high living willow structure, a giant sandpit, a mound with tunnels to clamber in and a climbing frame. Or check out the Yew Maze or the popular Water Maze (don’t forget to bring a towel!) A fab day out for everyone. hevercastle.co.uk

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Dragon Boat Festival, Bewl Water, Sat 7 Sep

Don’t miss the annual Dragon Boat Festival at Bewl Water this September. Crews of 16 paddlers (plus a drummer) race in Chinese-style Dragon Boats over a 250-metre course. Crews do not need to be super fit or skilled to be successful – all that’s required is teamwork and a good sense of fun! Dragon Boat racing is steeped in mythology and has been around for many thousands of years in China. There’s more to the Festival than the dragon boat races. The Bewl Water site that looks onto the water is full of tents and marquees with many running stalls selling cakes and other goodies, running competitions, and generally full to bursting with people in interesting and unusual fancy dress! bewlwater.co.uk

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The Longevity Retreat, Day 1 Wellness, KINGDOM, 8 Sept

Book now for DayOne Wellness’ Longevity Retreat, taking place in the beautiful surroundings of KINGDOM in Penshurst. This one-day retreat is for leaders, whether your lead a team, lead a family or lead a ‘tribe’. Prevent and reverse lifestyle diseases and learn how to sustainably burn body fat and enhance your mental health WITHOUT taking time away from your business or family. The retreat starts with a wellbeing age assessment and its packed full of empowering workshops, energising outdoor activities and delicious whole food meals, from 9am – 4pm. For all the info and for the day’s agenda: dayonewellness.co.uk

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Eat, Drink, Margate, Dreamland, Sat 7 & Sun 8 Sep

Dreamland is hosting its first ever food festival this September! Expect an array of foodie entertainment including a farmer’s market, a parade of street vendors and a beer and cider tent. Come along to try titbits and sip samples from excellent products from local and London based chefs, wine experts and coffee connoisseurs. On the Saturday, enjoy the live music from The Britpop Collective and on the Sunday, there will be a mini-festival of ice cream featuring more than – wait for it – 32 million different ice cream combinations! For all the details: dreamland.co.uk

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Wheels & Fins Festival, Broadstairs, Sat 7 & Sun 8 Sep

Wheels and Fins Festival is a hidden gem in the UK festival calendar. It’s one of very few where guests can sunbathe, dance and camp by the sea at Joss Bay, Broadstairs. With an eclectic mix of music and entertainment including internationally acclaimed live acts, leading electronic DJs, the best pro-skateboarders, and beach-based activities such as yoga, surfing and paddle boarding, Wheels and Fins Festival has cemented its place as the intimate, coastal event not to be missed. wheelsandfins.co.uk

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Free Toddler Club, Wildwood Trust, Every Mon & Thurs During School Term Time

Wildwood’s free toddler club for pre-school children in the Beaver Lodge Cafe. There’s a different activity every week from crafts and games to walks and animal talks. Every Monday & Thursday during term time: 10.30am – 12pm. wildwoodtrust.org

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Screening: Fleabag, Curzon Cinema, Canterbury, 12, 28 & 29 Sep

If you didn’t snaffle tickets for Phoebe Waller Bridge’s brilliantly dark comedy Fleabag on the West End, you’re in luck as it’s being screened to Curzon Cinemas in Canterbury. curzoncinemas.com

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Comedy Night, Brenchley, Fri 13 Sep

The Weekend@Brenchley is back – and better than ever! Now in its fourth year and back in a marquee at the Brenchley Memorial Hall Ground, the fun starts on Fri 13 Sept with The Comedy Night (tickets £15 each; available via villageidiotcomedy.com, the Post Office in Brenchley or Hammonds butchers in Matfield). This year’s line-up features four of the most exciting acts on the UK comedy circuit, including the highly original Trevor Lock, stand-up star Michael Fabbri who supported Mickey Flanagan on his last tour, Tania Edwards, a stalwart of TV and radio comedy and named as one of Glamour Magazine’s Top Ten comics, plus the observational stylings of Dutch comedy star, Wouter Meijs. The weekend continues on Saturday 14 with a Craft Show (contact brenchleyvillagemarket@gmail.com for stallholder information) and Dog Show, followed by an evening Party Night (contact Ali.fullick@gmail.com for tickets), with all profits from the weekend going to local good causes. See you there!

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Faversham Food Festival, Various Locations, Fri 13 – Sun 15 Sep

The Faversham Food Festival brings together food producers, retailers, restaurants and cafes to all share their enjoyment of local food and beverage! With a 3-day weekend packed with fun from Ale Trails, competitions, the Medieval Food Fayre and more! For all the details: favershamfoodfestival.co.uk

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Heritage Open Days, Various Locations, 13 – 16 Sep

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture, it basically means every September, National Trust and various other places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate heritage and history. It’s the perfect chance to see hidden places and try out new experience – did we mention it’s absolutely free? So on the 13-16th of September in Kent you take a free tour of the Assembly Hall, explore the old Victorian gothic school: Skinner’s, The Opera House (aka Wetherspoons), you can discover the King Charles the Martyr Church, the Tunbridge Wells Forum, Trinity Theatre or take part in a walking tour of The Pantiles – just to name a few! Don’t say we didn’t warn you. heritageopendays.org.uk

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Macknade Fine Foods Pre Launch Party, Ashford’s Elwick Place, 14 Sep

Calling all food lovers! Macknade & Friends are offering an exciting day of foodie fun for all the family at Elwick Place this September to celebrate their brand new arrival in Ashford. Join for an afternoon of great food and drink, live music, demonstrations and tastings from Big Green Eggs, Coxys Liqueurs and Simpsons Wine Estate. Even free face painting and craft activities for the little ones. This new food & drink hub will open later this year offering an all-day dining experience that takes you through from breakfast and brunch to supper and cocktails in the evening. Dishes & drinks will feature plenty of what you know & love from their flagship Faversham food hall, including meat from their award-winning butchers, seasonal Kentish produce and freshly ground Manaresi coffee. Ashford will be an opportunity for more of Kent to experience what makes Macknade so special – bringing people & communities together over a shared love of food & drink. macknade.com

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Festival of Flowers, Leeds Castle, Sat 14 – 19 Sep

Also celebrating their 900th anniversary this year, don’t miss Leeds Castle’s spectacular Festival of Flowers! An impressive line-up of internationally award winning floral designers will take over the rooms of the Castle. Explore and join a programme of floral demonstrations, specialist talks and daily garden tours, included as part of your entrance ticket. There will be a guest talk on Saturday 14th September by English garden designer and television personality Joe Swift, taking place in the festival marquee. There will also be the opportunity to buy beautiful flowers, David Austen roses and garden accessories from a variety of stalls on the Pavilion Lawn. leeds-castle.com

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Sandwich Arts Week, Sat 14 – Sat 21 Sep

A week long exhibition of over 40 local artists in St Peter’s church and in addition at various locations around the Town Trail. The exhibition opens with a welcome evening including a glass of wine and an opportunity to meet the artists on Saturday evening in St Peters Church plus piano recitals, cinemas evenings and much more! For the full week of events: sandwichevents.org.uk

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Tunbridge Wells Food Month, Various Locations, 14 – 28 Sep

In the space of four weeks, the town is hosting two Food Festivals, four markets and a Beer Weekend. The lineup is: The Pantiles Harvest Food Festival with live music and cooking demos, 14 – 15 Sep. The new Farmer’s Market in Market Square accessed by Camden Road or walk through Royal Victoria Place via The Food Count Entrance on Sat 14 & Sat 28. Tunbridge Wells Beer Weekend talking place across the town with beer tastings, talks and quizzes! Crawl between Fuggles, The George, Sankey’s, The Bedford, The Guinea and more on Thurs 5 – Sun 8 Sep to join the fun. Last but not least, The RTW Food and Drink Festival in Calverley Grounds, don’t miss this FREE family event with cooking demos and talks, taster menus and even a street food area, all happening 21 & 22 Sep.

Matthew Bourne’s Romeo And Juliet is a passionate and contemporary re-imagining of Shakespeare’s classic love story. Confined against their will by a society that seeks to divide, our two young lovers must follow their hearts as they risk everything to be together. Bursting with youth, vitality and Matthew Bourne’s trademark storytelling, the south east’s brightest young dance talent join the New Adventures company, with direction and choreography by Matthew Bourne, design by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Paul Groothuis and new orchestrations of the Prokofiev score by Terry Davies, played live by the New Adventures Orchestra. Get the last few tickets remaining!marlowetheatre.com

Like to keep at the cutting edge of fitness and wellbeing? Find out more about this new DNA testing program with bespoke nutritional and lifestyle plans – at this FREE launch event. The ‘Knowledge is Power’ hour-long talk and demonstration, 7-8pm, will explain all about how the latest DNA analysis technology is used to create truly individualised nutrition and lifestyle programs to optimise your health and wellbeing.

Nutrigenomics is the science behind it and understanding of it has massively grown over the past decade. At the event, SPN’s very own Nutritional Therapist, Abir, will explain the concept in basic every day terms (no science degree needed, promise!) and practical tips will be given on how this directly relates to our lives and how we can achieve our health and wellbeing goals (woo-hoo!)‬. Basically if you want to learn how your individual genetic differences affect your response to diet and lifestyle – then go! Book here (or on the app under enrolments) – it’s free to attend and numbers are strictly limited.

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Orchard Day, Small Hythe Place, Sat 21 Sep

Enjoy a a day out at Small Hythe Place as they host their annual celebration of Kent’s produce with garden tours, historic talks, stalls and a variety of activities, there’s something for everyone to taste and get involved in! nationaltrust.org.uk

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Young Readers Festival, various locations around Sevenoaks, Sat 21 Sep

Calling all budding authors, artists and creators! Don’t miss the Sevenoaks Young Readers Festival on Sat 21 sep with a whole range of talks, pop-up bookshops and author signings across 3 venues. A talk with Onjali Q. Rauf (The Boy At The Back Of The Class & The Star Outside My Window) and Chris Riddell (The Cloud Horse Chronicles) and even a live recording of the children’s books podcast, Down The Rabbit Hole Live: How We Became Writers And You Can Too! With Cerrie Burnell, Zanib Mian and David Solomans will be The Drive Methodist Church. FREE Story Times will be over on at Marquee On The Vine at The Vine Gardens. And finally, Chris Mould (The Iron Man) an author and award-winning illustrator will be at The Sevenoaks Bookshop to paint the shop window from 11am and at 3:30 pm Chris will be doing a FREE reading from The Iron Man. For the full details and line-up, go to: sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk

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Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Trinity Theatre, 22 & 24 Sep

Quentin Tarantino’s tale of a TV-Western actor and his stunt double and how they collide with the Manson Family in the Hollywood of 1969. Escape the crowds at the Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells, grab your girlfriends and have a drink at the bar before the show. Book your tickets now: trinitytheatre.net

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The Story of Guitar Heroes, Leas Cliff Hall Folkestone, Sun 22 Sep

The Story of Guitar Heroes is an awe-inspiring, dynamic show which transports you through time: from the 1950’s with artistes such as Chuck Berry and Hank Marvin from The Shadows, including gifted legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, through to modern day players such as the great Brian May and the electrifying Steve Vai, to name but a few! Presented by guitar virtuoso Phil Walker – this show’s extraordinarily talented band uses over 30 guitars to recreate and accurately reproduce the sound and ambiance of each guitar hero. Featuring video footage of historical moments, with state-of-the-art lighting and delivered with a light-hearted vibe – this makes for a truly sensational and enjoyable evening. Now in its 5th year, The Story of Guitar Heroes has become increasingly popular not only with guitar players and musicians, but with people and families of all ages. Don’t miss out on this spectacular show. You won’t be disappointed! Tickets from £13, book now… atgtickets.com

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Sevenoaks Literary Festival, Various Locations, 23 Sep – 3 Oct

The Sevenoaks Literary Festival brings the brightest and best of current authors to Sevenoaks. Taking place over a period of two weeks from the end of September to the beginning of October, the Festival’s events and other talks – including an afternoon literary tea – are held at various venues throughout the town. The Festival is distinguished by a stream of excellent speakers; Kate Williams, Henry Hemming, Andrew Lownie, Julia Lovell and Lemn Sissay to just mention a few! For the full line-up… sevlitfest.com

From traditional curries to Curious curries, don’t miss this treat for the senses! Muddy loves this fab restaurant, set up in what was a disused pub in Boughton Monchelsea, so south of Maidstone and just north of Sutton Valence. The immediate surrounds are quite suburban – basically it’s off the beaten track and the kind of place that you’d never stumble across unless you’d heard about it from word-of-mouth. But inside is an outstanding restaurant (Finalist in Best Restaurant in Kent in 2019 Muddy Awards) and they also organise much-sought after Secret Supper Clubs. But can you take the heat? Call the Eatery to book on 01622 299359. facebook.com/events

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Well Woman Event, Saloman’s Estate, Thurs 26 Sep

Don’t miss the Well Woman Event at Salomon’s Estate this September! It’ll be an evening of motivational talks delivered by women’s health specialists to discuss health, hormones and general well-being. Have the chance to mingle with likeminded women and have a mini massage. Leave with a goodie bag full of products and offers and even have the chance to win a signed copy of The Natural Health Bible for Women by Dr Marilyn Glenville. To book your place email: events@bellavou.co.uk, only £15.

The Canterbury Food and Drink Festival returns with two stages of live music, delicious street food, a festival bar, a kids area (hello fun fair rides!), a bar (you’ll know where we’ll be) and shopping in the Produce in Kent area. Pop down to Dane John Gardens and eat your heart out! Did we mention it was FREE? canterbury.co.uk

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Gin Festival, Bluewater, Fri 27 – Sun 29 Sep

This September, Bluewater will hold its first ever Gin Festival! Award-winning mixologists will be serving delicious cocktails whilst experts from the country’s best gin makers will be leading masterclasses and workshops. Immerse yourself in the world of gin and find out more about some of the UK’s top distilleries including Griffiths Brothers, Hinch Distillery, Silent Pool, Macmyra, Gin & Jones and local Kent distillers, Copper Rivet. Book your tickets now! Get a free G&T on arrival and a commemorative Glencairn Crystal gin and tonic glass to take home: eventbrite.co.uk

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Design-Your-Own Accessory, Elvis & Kresse, Tonge Mill, Sat 28 Sep

Elvis & Kresse, is the incredibly cool brand that makes luxury bags and goodies from reclaimed materials (you read about them here before, remember?). They are hugely current, have a big cult following being an eco-friendly, sustainable business. Now it’s your chance to learn how to make and design your own luxury accessory in Elvis & Kresse’s very own workshop at Tonge Mill. On 28 Sep, choose between the wide selection of leather colours and textures, then design and assemble your very own piece. The crafts team at Elvis & Kresse will the finish your piece and send it out to you in their wonderful reclaimed packaging. Including a light lunch. Spaces are limited, book now! elvisandkresse.com

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The Big Day Event Tipis Wedding Fair, Whitstable, Sun 29 Sep

Big Day Event Tipis is a homegrown Kentish businesses who love parties and weddings and are the BEST people to consult when it comes to putting on a perfect show for you and your guests. Their skilled team design and build magical tipi spaces for your Big Day – be it a wedding, birthday or just a good ol’ big bash. They cover events across the South East but are happy to travel nationwide if you had somewhere further afield in mind. If you’re planning your Big Day, don’t miss their Alternative Wedding Fair on Sun 29 Sep! Experience their Coastal Meadow Tipi Wedding Venue on the Whitstable coastline with breath taking sunsets and uninterrupted sea views, it’s a tipi wedding experience like no other. On the day you can meet with some of Kent’s finest artisan wedding suppliers from styling your venue to finding the right Photographer. You’ll be welcomed with a complimentary drink and Big Day Events Tipis will be on hand to chat about the wonderful plans you have for your Big Day and offer advice on their Giant Tipis (available to hire at your chosen location). Book your free tickets now: eventbrite.com